A 73-year-old Mumbai resident allegedly missed the critical "golden hour" for stroke treatment after police detained him for several hours on suspicion of drunk driving instead of recognizing signs of a medical emergency. His family claims the delay resulted in partial paralysis and has raised serious concerns about police handling of the case.
The incident occurred on July 25 when Sharad Kadam, a retired businessman from Versova, reportedly suffered a stroke while driving. Around 9 am, he lost control of his car and lightly collided with another vehicle.
According to his family, Kadam's slurred speech—a common symptom of a stroke—was mistaken by police for intoxication. They allege that officers neither conducted a breathalyser test at the scene nor ensured he received immediate medical attention.
Instead, an FIR was registered against him for rash and negligent driving and suspected drunk driving based on a constable's complaint, which claimed Kadam smelled of alcohol.
Kadam's relatives allege he was kept at Versova Police Station for nearly five hours before being taken to a hospital. They say the overall delay in treatment extended to nearly 12 hours, causing him to miss the crucial "golden hour" during which stroke patients have the best chance of recovery.
He was eventually admitted to Nanavati Hospital around 8 p.m., where he remains in the intensive care unit (ICU). His family says the delay has left the right side of his body partially paralysed.
Following the FIR, Kadam was taken to Cooper Hospital for a blood alcohol test. Police claim he informed doctors there that he had consumed alcohol, and the blood test report is still awaited.
However, after his family shifted him to Nanavati Hospital later that evening, another alcohol test reportedly found no trace of alcohol in his system.
Under standard legal procedure, a person suspected of drunk driving should be taken to a hospital for medical examination and blood alcohol testing before being brought to a police station.
Kadam's nephew, Andheri West corporator Rohan Rathod, accused police of ignoring clear symptoms of a stroke despite his uncle's age and worsening condition.
Rathod said a relative, who is a lawyer, found Kadam collapsed inside the police station and immediately noticed his slurred speech. Despite this, he alleged, officers continued to treat the matter as a drunk driving case instead of arranging urgent medical care.
The family has also questioned why the other driver involved in the minor collision, who they claim is a doctor, did not recognise the signs of a stroke.
The incident has drawn political attention, with BJP MLA Ameet Satam writing to Deputy Commissioner of Police Purushottam Karad, seeking action against the officers involved.
In his letter, Satam questioned why Kadam was allegedly denied prompt medical treatment despite showing symptoms of a stroke. He also said he sought an explanation from the senior inspector of Versova Police Station but did not receive a satisfactory response.
Police have maintained that the investigation is ongoing, and the blood alcohol test report from Cooper Hospital is still awaited.
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